Safety device for the firing pin of hand firearms or small arms

ABSTRACT

A safety device for the striking bolt of a hand firearm comprises a spring-loaded safety bolt which in the safety position engages a recess in the axially slidable striking bolt and has an extension engaged by a safety lever operable by a trigger controlled by a pivotally mounted striking hammer. The safety lever has thereon a projection for the purpose of slidably moving the safety bolt and simultaneously therewith rotating a catch lever into a position in which the striking hammer is released. A special release lever which engages a projection on a release disk is adapted to disengage a catch lever and is effective to slowly move the striking hammer during its return stroke into its released position in which the catch lever is locked in safety position.

United States Patent Ludwig [111 3,724,113 51 Apr. 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Singer, Stern & Carlberg [75] Inventor: Walter Ludwig, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland [57] ABSTRACT A safety device for the striking bolt of a hand firearm [73] Asslgnee' schwe'zer'sche lndustrfe' comprises a spring-loaded safety bolt which in the f Neuhausen am Rhem' safety position engages a recess in the axially slidable Swltzerland striking bolt and has an extension engaged by a safety [22] Fil d; A 19, 1971 lever operable by a trigger controlled by a pivotally mounted striking hammer. The safety lever has [21] APP! 173004 thereon a projection for the purpose of slidably moving the safety bolt and simultaneously therewith rotat- [30] Foreign Application p i it Data ing a catch lever into a position in which the striking hammer [5 released. A special release lever which en- Aug. 24, 1970 Switzerland ..l26l8/70 gages a projection on a release k is adapted to engage a catch lever and is effective to slowly move [521 U.S..CI ..42/70 F th t iki hammer du i it return t k i t it Int. Cl. "F416 released position in the atch lever is lo ked in of Search F afety position [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCA'llONS 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 660,046 10/1951 Great Britain ..42/70 F I' 21 4 5 a 17\ \\/J W 70 8 A i l 12 lisesfl k l L i A 20- 710 2 1 fl O TI Z\ 1 w 670)! kr i l ..r:

. D 'l i 86 7 T( SHEET 2 BF 2 SAFETY DEVICE FORTHE FIRING PIN OF I-IAND FIREARMS OR SMALL ARMS The invention relates to a safety device for the firing pins of hand firearms with a spring loaded safety bolt which in the safety position engages in a recess of the firing pin and which has an extension on which engages a safety lever, whereby a trigger bar is operable by the trigger and is in driving connection with the striking hammer and with the safety lever, and that furthermore a spring loaded catch lever is provided which engages in the tensioned position of the striking hammer a catch shoulder on the same.

A safety device of this type is already known. In this known device, however, the safety lever which actuates the safety bolt and the catch lever which retains the striking hammer in a tensioned position comprise a single common part. This is a disadvantage in that during the tensioning and the release of the striking hammer the necessary pivotal movement of the catch lever causes the firing pin safety to be out of operation for a moment. g

It is the object of the invention to overcome this disadvantage and additionally to provide a special release device for the striking hammer.

The invention is characterized by a safety lever which is provided with a projection which during its pivotal movement for the purpose of slidably moving the safety bolt simultaneously pivots also the catch lever into a position in which the striking hammer is released.

Preferably, the striking hammer has a catch shoulder forming a safety catch for the safety lever.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a release lever is provided which engages during its pivotal movement a release disk which by means of a projection, which causes a pivotal movement of the catch lever away from the catch shoulder. The catch lever has an abutment which engages the striking hammer for the purpose of moving the striking hammer slowly during the return rotation of the release lever into its release position, in which the catch lever engages the safety shoulder on the striking hammer.

The drawings illustrate by way of example an embodiment of the invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a part of a A hand firearm with the parts of the safety device in FIG. 2 is a section similar to FIG. 1 with the parts in A firing position shortly after the operation of the trigger.

FIG.- 3 is a longitudinal section of the firearm according to the FIG. I viewed from the other side, and in firing position during operation of the release lever; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3 but in a safety position according to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 the barrel 1 of the hand firearm is only partially illustrated and has a cartridge 2 inserted in it. In the breech block 3 is arranged an axially slidable firing pin 4, which is urged rearwardly by a helical spring 5. A pivotally mounted striking hammer 8 actuated by a striking spring 6 and a striking rod 7 strikes upon actuation of a trigger 9 in known manner against the firing pin 4.

The firing pin 4 has between its ends a recess 10 in which engages in the safety position a safety bolt 11 which is subject to the tension of a spring 21. A downwardly directed extension 11a on the safety bolt 11 cooperates with a pivotal safety lever 12. Furthermore, a catch lever 13 which is subject to the tension of a leg spring 16 may engage the shoulders 8a, 8b on the striking hammer 8. The trigger 9 by means of a trigger bar 14 is in driving connection with the striking hammer 8 and with the safety lever 12.

In the position shown in FIG. I the catch lever 13 engages the so-called safety shoulder 8a on the striking hammer 8. The firing pin 4 is locked against axial movement by the safety bolt 11. Accordingly, the firearm is in a safety position and cannot be fired.

When the trigger 9 is actuated the trigger bar 14 is moved forwardly toward the right (FIG. 1). A rear projection 14a of the bar 14 engages the striking hammer 8 and rotates the latter into a tensioned position. The striking hammer 8 may also be moved by means of pulling back the breech block 3 into its tensionedposition. In this tensioned position of the hammer 8, the lever 13 engages the shoulder 8b of the striking hammer 8.

If now the trigger bar 14 is pulled still farther forward by a complete pulling back of the trigger 9, then the projection 14b of the trigger bar 14 engages the rear of the projection 12a on'the safety lever 12 and rotates the same in such manner that the safety bolt 11 is actuated and releases'the firing pin 4. After the release of the firing pin the projection 12a enters into engagement with the projection 13a of the catch lever 13. The latter is rotated away from the shoulder 8!; (compare FIG. 2). At the same time, by means of a rotation of the striking hammer 8 the upper surface of the projection 14a enters into contact with the area 8c ofthe striking hammer 8 and is urged downwardly by the latter so far that the connection between striking hammer 8 and the trigger .bar 14 is released so that the striking hammer under pressure of the striking spring 6 may strike against the firing pin 4. In this manner the firing pin 4 is always released shortly before a shot is to be fired. After the firing of the shot the striking hammer 8 is again tensioned by the return travel of the breech 3. The catch lever 13 rests against the shoulder 8b and the safety bolt 1 l locks the firing pin 4.

In order to release the firearm without danger, a special release lever 15 is provided which is illustrated in the FIGS. 3 and 4. These FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the same parts as the FIGS. 1 and 2, however, when viewed from the other side of the firearm. The release lever 15 is rotatable about a pin 17 disposed below the pivot axis of the safety lever 12. The lever 14 may be rotated against the force of a spring, not shown, and engages with a pin 18 thereon a slot 19a of a release disk 19 which is rotatably mounted on the pin 20 on which are rotatably supported also the striking hammer 8 and the safety lever 12. The release disk 19 has a projection 19b which cooperates with the projection 13a of the catch lever 13. In addition, the disk 19 has an abutment shoulder which engages in front of the striking hammer 8.

The operation of the release lever 15 is as follows: When the release lever 15 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction the release disk 19 rotates in the clockwise direction. This has the result that the catch lever 13 is forced away from the shoulder 8b, and the striking hammer 8 becomes free. It is, however, caught by the stop shoulder 19c of the release disc 19. By a slow release of the release lever the striking hammer 8 moves into the safety position in which the catch lever engages in the shoulder 8a (FIG. 4). During this release operation the safety bolt 11 remains continuously in engagement with the firing pin 4. As a result, the firearm remains also in a safe position when the release lever 15 is accidentally moved back too quickly into its starting position, or when the striking hammer is not caught by the safety shoulder 8a.

What I claim is:

1. Safety device for a striking bolt of hand firearms with a spring loaded safety bolt which in safety position wherein the improvement comprises a projection on the safety lever which upon pivotal movement of said lever, for the purpose of slidably moving the safety bolt, simultaneously pivots the catch lever into a position in which the striking hammer is released.

2. Safety device according to the claim 1, in which the striking hammer is provided with a second shoulder for engagement with said catch lever, said second shoulder forming a safety shoulder.

3. Safety device according to claim 1, including a release lever '(15) which when pivotally moved engages a release disk (19) having a projection (19b) adapted to disengage the catch lever from a catch shoulder (8b) on the same, said release disk also having an abutment (19c) for engaging the striking hammer for the purpose of slowly moving said striking hammer during the return movement of the release lever into its released position -in which the catch lever engages a second shoulder on said hammer, said second shoulder forming a safety shoulder. 

1. Safety device for a striking bolt of hand firearms with a spring loaded safety bolt which in safety position engages a recess in the striking bolt and has an extension engaged by a safety lever, and a trigger bar operable by a trigger and in driving connection with a striking hammer and with the safety lever, as well as a spring loaded catch lever which engages in tensioned position of the striking hammer a catch shoulder of the same, wherein the improvement comprises a projection on the safety lever which upon pivotal movement of said lever, for the purpose of slidably moving the safety bolt, simultaneously pivots the catch lever into a position in which the striking hammer is released.
 2. Safety device according to the claim 1, in which the striking hammer is provided with a second shoulder for engagement with said catch lever, said second shoulder forming a safety shoulder.
 3. Safety device according to claim 1, including a release lever (15) which when pivotally moved engages a release disk (19) having a projection (19b) adapted to disengage the catch lever from a catch shoulder (8b) on the same, said release disk also having an abutment (19c) for engaging the striking hammer for the purpose of slowly moving said striking hammer during the return movement of the release lever into its released position in which the catch lever engages a second shoulder on said hammer, said second shoulder forming a safety shoulder. 